Officials: 11 in criminal ring may have stolen over 50 ATMs

CLEVELAND (AP) — Authorities say a criminal ring that netted hundreds of thousands of dollars from smash-and-grab ATM thefts could be responsible for stealing more than 50 cash machines in northeast Ohio since 2015.

An indictment unsealed Tuesday includes charges connected to 10 thefts or attempted thefts since February 2015. A Cleveland police commander said Wednesday that eight of the 11 men named in the indictment are in custody. The Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County prosecutor says more arrests and charges are expected.

The indictment says the group typically stole cargo vans, drove to targeted locations and used the vans to smash through storefronts and loosen ATMs from their moorings and accessed cash in the machines with power tools, pry bars and cutting torches.

Employees and customers were at some stores during the thefts.

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This story has been corrected to show that prosecutors say 11 men have been charged, not that prosecutors have indicted 11 men.